Fastener



Fe b. 13, 1945. M. JOHNSON FASTENER INVENTOR. Coryaon M Johnson BY Filed Feb. 5, 1944 Il I Patented Feb. 13, 1945 UNITED ST PATENT OFFICE 2,369,297 FASTENER Corydon M. Johnson, Freeport, N. Y.

Application February 5, 1944, Serial No. 521,177 I SClaimS. (c1. zit-221) This invention relates to a structural fastener and particularly to one that is adapted to secure two sheet metal elements such as the elements of a cowl together.

An object of the invention is to provide a fastener of this type which, when it is in fastening position, will constitute a rigid structure which will positively secure the sheet metal elements together.

. A further object of the invention resides in the A still further object of th invention resides in providing means for locking the fastener elements together, which means automatically comes intoplay immediately upon the assembly of the fastener elements, regardless of whether or not they have been completely adjusted to secure the sheet metal plates together.

With these and other objects in view that will appear asthe description progresses, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts illustrated in the drawing, described in the specification and set forth in the claims.

While I will describe the fastener as useful in connection with the-fastening of the two elements of a cowl together, it is of course to be understood that it is not to be limited to this use.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is anelevation of the fastener showing the same in the positionthat it occupies when fastening the sheet metal elements together.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view.

Figure 3 is a top plan View.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of.

Figure 1, showin the relative positions of the parts when the fastener is operated to secure the which is internally screw clined with respect to the axialcenter of the nut. The nut is floatingly mounted in a basket 5 that is adaptedto be secured to one of the sheet metal plates 6 by suitable means such as rivets I. An externally threaded male member or screw 8 is adapted toengage with the internal threads of the nut I and on its ends adjacent the multiangular end of the nut is provided with a multiangular socket 9, the number of angles prefer.- ably corresponding to the number of angles of the opening 2 of the nut I. The opposite end of the screw 8 is provided with a head Ill in which a slotll for the reception of a screw driver or other operating implement i located. This screw 8 has a central bore I2 which extends inwardly from the head I D, is closed at its inner end. but is open at the head end. A plunger I3 is axially mounted in the bore I 2 and extends through the end of the screw 8 into the nut I. I The end of this plunger is provided with a key I 4, the face of which is angular in form, in the present instant being-hexagonal. I

Normally the key M i urged into engagement with the angular faced socket ll by a spring l5 which is interposed between the closed end of the bore I2 and. a retainer I6 whose outward movement on the plunger I6 is limited by a spun head I1; The length of the key I4 is such thatwhen the male or screw member 8 of the fastener is engaged with the femal or nut member I and the key is engaged with the socket 9 it will also be engaged with the angular facesof the opening 2 inthenutI. 1

In assembling thefastener to secure th removable cowl element I8 to the fixed cowl element 6, after the two-have been placed intheir overlapping relationship and the nut I has been secured permanently to element 6, for instance, the

male or screw member 8, which at this time is multi-an'gular opening 2. Thisnut I is provided with an outwardly extending flang 3 thatis incompletely disengaged from thenut I and carries the plunger I3 with its key I 4, is inserted through the openings in the elements: I8 and 6 until threads on the male or screw member I3 engage with the threads on the female or nut member I.

If, because of distortion of the elements I8 and 3 in the basket 5.

Pressure on the operating implement, such as.

the screw driver, after the screw threads have been initially engaged, will depress the plunger- I3 and. move the key I4 from the socket 9,.and;

the continued pressure exerted while the screw 8 is being engaged with the nut will maintain this key out of the socket 9 against the action of the spring l5, so that the male member or screw will be free to turn to draw the element l8 into en- 2 of the nut so that the plunger l3 and'key wil 'not turn during the turning of the screw.

As soon, however, a the pressure on the screw is released by the operating implement the spring I5 will move the key M inwardly, not out ofe'ngagement with the multi angular face of the opening 2, but into engagement with the multiangular face of the socket 9. Thus the key will lock the screw 8 and the nut I together.

When in this position with the head or skirt l0 drawn tightly against the plate llkthe elemerits or plates 6 and [8 will be positively secured together, as will also the screw 8 and the mil; '1, so that there will be no give between the elements of the fastener to permit movement between the plates andthis rigid connectionwill bemaintained because of the inability of the screw 8 and the nut I to have relative movement, due to the engagement of the key M with the angular face of the opening 2 of the nut and the angular face of the socket 9. v It will be realized that if at any time after the initial engagement of thescrew ith the nut and the insertion of the key I4 'into the opening 2-, and even before the two elements have been drawn tightly against each other, pressure is released from the screw by the removal of the operating implement or the relieving of pressure on it, the spring l5 will immediately come intooperation and engage the key I4 with the socket 9 While still maintaining the engagement of the key with the angular faces of the opening 2.- Thus, if for any reason the two elements of the fastener are not drawn tightly together, they nevertheless will be positively looked together and maintain the two sheet metal plates in their engaging relationship.

What I claim is:

1. A separable fastener through aligned apertures in and to secure superimposed plate elements together which includes: a retainer-basket adapted to be secured to one of said elements, an internally threaded nut having a flange loosely retained in said.retainer-basket and having a polysided opening in one end thereof, a screw member having external screw threads adapted to engage the screw threads of the nut and to penetrate thenut to different degrees,- said screw member having a head on one end thereof adapted to engage another of the plate elements and having a socket at the other end thereof, a plunger extending axially ofand withinthe screw member and having a polysidedkev on the end thereof adjacent said socket and adapted to slidably move within the polysided opening in the nut, thesocket having a plurality of angular seats at least equal in number and oomplemental to the angles of the key to receive the key, and a spring surrounding said plunger and adapted normally to urge the key into the socket with the angular portions thereof seated in. the angular seats of the socket in various positions of penetration of the screw member into the nut while the key extends into the polyadapted to extend member having a head on one end thereof adapted to engage another of the plate elements and having a socket at the other end thereof, a.

plunger extending axially of and within the crew member and having a polysided key on the end thereof adjacent said socket and adapted to slidably move within the polysided pening in the nut, the socket having a plurality of. angular seats at least equal in number and complemental to the angles of the key to receive the key, and a spring surrounding said plunger and adapted normally to urge the key into. the socket with the angular portions thereof seated in the angular seats of the socket in various positions of penetration of the screw member into the nut while the key extends into the polysided openingin the nut whereby the nut and screw member are imposed plate elements together which includes:-

1 an internally threaded nut, an externally thread-- ed screw member adapted to engage with the nut member to different degrees of penetration, said screw member and said nut member having irregularly shaped adjacent openings, a key having faces complemental t0 the faces of said openings,

slidably mounted within the opening'in the nut, and adapted to engage the opening in the screw member while in engagement with the opening in the nut member, and means normally urging the key into engagement with the opening in the screw member.

4. A separable fastener adapted to extend through aligned apertures in and to securesuper imposed plate elements together which includes: an internally threaded nut, an externally thread: ed screw member adapted to engage with the nut member to different degrees of penetration, said screw member and said nut member having irregularly shaped adjacent openings, a key having faces complemental to'the faces of said openings,

slidably mounted within the opening in the nut,

and adapted to engage the opening the screw member while in engagement with the opening in' the nut member, means normally urgingt-he key into engagement With the opening in the key through the s'crevv member" by force may be tlans'rnltte'd against the action or the spring t0 IIlOVe the key from the openin the screw. member to permit the relative rota-tron (if eon; slotted Head: said member;

plunger connected with said slidable locking. means and extending through the screw member into the screw head, resilient means for urging the slidable locking member into engagement.

with thescreW member while maintaining its engagement with the nut and for urging the end of the plunger remote from the slidable member toward the surface of the screw head whereby ed screw member adapted toengage said nut to difierent degrees of penetration, said nut and said screw member having polysided openings therein, a key adapted to engage in both openings to lock the nut and screw member against relative rotation, said screw member having a slotted head on the end thereof opposite said key, and means normally operable to engage said key with the opening in said screw member, which means includes a plunger having a portion extending into the slot of the screw head. t

7. A separable fastener adapted to. extend through aligned apertures in and to secure supered screw member adapted to engage said nut to difierent degrees of penetration, said nut and said screw member having polysided openings therein, a key adapted to engage in both openwhen a screw driver is engaged with the slot in the head and pressure. is applied thereto the plunger will be moved against the action of the resilient means to effectuate a disconnection of ings to lock the nut and screw member against relative rotation, said screw member having a slotted head on the end thereof opposite said key, and means normally operable to engage said key with the opening in said screw member, which means includes a plunger having a portion. extending into the slot of the screw head, said key and said openings having complemental polysided faces.

8. A separable fastener adapted to extend through aligned apertures in and to secure superimposed plate elements together which includes: an internally threaded nut, an externally threadedscrew member adapted to engage said nut to dilferent. degrees of penetration, said nut and said screw member havinggpol-ysided openings therein, a key adapted to engage inboth openings to lock the nut and screw member against relative rotation, said screw member having a slotted head on the end thereof opposite said key,

imposed plate elements together which includes:

an internally threaded nut, an externally threadand means normally operable to engage said key with the opening in said screw member, which means includes a plunger having a portion extending into the slot of the screw head, said key and said openings having complemental polysided faces, the polysided faces of the opening in the screw member being at least equal in number to the polysided faces of the key.

CORYDON M. JOHNSON. 

